Two miles below State Route 271 10.0 miles
to Vintondale
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II-III 36/50 Small
(69/115) B/C 4.4-??
Vintondale Josephine
Topographic Maps: Colver, Strongstown, Vintondale
County Maps: Cambria
Description: The stream is a Class II meandering plateau stream for the first 4 miles. Numerous small reservoirs in the watershed cause the first few miles of stream bed to dry up during low flow periods and become overgrown with brush. There are some islands with tree hazards. The stream leaves the plateau in several miles of Class III past US Route 422 to Red Mill. The last mile or so is wide and shallow with numerous islands. About 2 miles of tiny Elk Run from State Route 271 to the North Branch at US Route 422 can be run as an alternate to the North Branch above US Route 422. It is shallow and predictable until it abruptly leaves the railroad. There is a 3‑foot ledge and steep, narrow rocky rapids of hard Class III difficulty. [Reported 1992]
Difficulties: The passages between the islands are choked with trees. You will have to do some canoe dragging to run this trip.
Shuttle: Follow State Route 271 south out of Nicktown for about 2.5 miles to an intersection where State Route 271 bears hard left shortly after crossing the creek. Proceed straight ahead onto the unnumbered intersecting road. Put in about 2 miles further, where this road crosses the creek. To get to the take-out go south on State Route 271 through Twin Rocks. Take the first right (State Route 3047) south of Twin Rocks to Vintondale which is about 2.5 miles. Go through Vintondale crossing the South Branch and continue on another 0.25 miles which brings you to the North Branch crossing. Take out near the iron furnace.
Gauges: Josephine on nearby Blacklick Creek. This gauge should read above 4.4 feet (2003 rating table). The corresponds to a flow of 970 cfs.
Normal Wet Period: The Josephine gauge is above 4.4 feet 8% of the time.